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RBM LUMBER A family lumber company takes a sustainable approach to wood
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quality trim or molding emphasizing the lines and style of a room can add the flare that makes all the difference to a
home. Several Montana companies produce these products in a range of custom styles and quality wood choices. While RBM Lumber Inc. of Columbia Falls is one of these, they have a company that goes one step further. Started in 1980 by the Thompson family and still family owned, they adhere to a committed philosophy of timber management and sustainability. Most of their sawmill equipment is built from locally salvaged materials. They are constantly looking for better ways to use the resource of timber and no part of the tree goes unused. Everything is sorted and graded again and again to make sure they are getting all they can from the tree. “Everything we manufacture is made from local species, right out of northwest Montana forests,” says owner Roy Thompson. These woods include fir, larch, pine and western red cedar. Finding the trim style, flooring or siding to fit a client’s vision is not difficult, with RBM’s vast selection of products. A client can walk through the large, well-organized warehouse in Columbia Falls and look at combinations of trim pieces, from Victorian to Colonial or Craftsmen style. Also available are many grades and styles of tongue and groove paneling, wood flooring, furniture and cabinet wood, rough beams and various styles of sidings, from standard to specialty like natural edge or drop siding. Thompson emphasizes that moisture content in any wood product is critical for a quality project. For this reason they dry all their interior products to 6-8% and exterior products to 12% moisture content. “Because we sell only what we produce, we can maintain control over our quality,” says Thompson. All their products are raw, stain grade wood. Wood grades at RBM can involve more than what is standard for most lumber yards or building centers, Thompson explains. For example, a lower standard grading might be determined by how many knots are in a piece, but at RBM the knots can be an asset if they are “good” knots. Some fine home finishes call for the beauty of tight knots which can raise the grade of the wood. “Rather than following industry grade standards, we tailor ours to the customers’ needs,” says Thompson. Skilled and highly trained workers cut and prepare the products to exact specifications and the care and precision shows. RBM prides itself on listening to what their clients want and fitting the product to their needs. “When you walk in the door, we will ask you a lot of questions about what you’re looking for and what the project is,” Thompson explains. “Then we educate people about wood products, especially ours. If we have a product that best fits their needs, the product sells itself.” •
78 MONTANA’S FINEST HOMES 2009-10
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RBM LUMBER
78 M O N TA N A L I V I N G . C O M
rbmlmbr.com 406.892.4208